Review: 'Forgotten' by Catherine McKenzie (2014)

Emma Tupper is a dedicated lawyer with a bright future. But, shattered by her mother’s death, she fulfills her dying wish by embarking on a month-long trip to Africa. There she falls ill, and spends six months trapped in a remote village thanks to a devastating earthquake. 
On her eventual return home Emma discovers that her friends, boyfriend, and colleagues thought she was dead and that life has moved on without her. As she struggles to recreate her old life, throwing herself into solving a big case for a client and trying to reclaim her beloved apartment from the handsome photographer who’s taken over her lease, everyone around her thinks she should take the opportunity to change. 
But is she willing to sacrifice the job, relationships and everything else she worked so hard to build?
I was introduced to author Catherine McKenzie and her work last year when I received the chance to read and review her novel 'Spin.' I ended up really enjoying the book (I gave it a rating of 9/10) and also got the chance to interview Catherine herself (click here to read both my review and the interview). So, when I was provided with the opportunity to check out one of Catherine's other novels, 'Forgotten', I jumped at the chance and couldn't wait to give another one of her books a try, especially one that sounded so promising and received many positive reviews from other book fans!
Emma Tupper works as a lawyer and she's a true workaholic with her eyes only focused on one goal: becoming partner. When her mother becomes ill and passes away, she wants Emma to go on a trip to Africa, the continent she herself loved throughout her life. Emma knows she might risk her chance at becoming partner, but she can't possibly ignore her mother's last wish. She takes a month off to go to Tswanaland, but due to unforeseen circumstances these few weeks turn into six whole months. Without any possibility of communication, Emma gets back home after all those months, determined to pick up her old life but she quickly comes to realise everything has changed. It might not be as easy as Emma thinks to get back into the swing of things, especially when everyone and everything seems to have moved on without her...
I definitely enjoyed Catherine McKenzie's novel 'Forgotten' as much as I enjoyed her other novel 'Spin'; it's a really entertaining and captivating read with quite an original storyline that held my interest from the first until the last page! The protagonist, Emma, has been through a lot and finds herself in quite an extraordinary situation; after an unforeseen long stay in Africa, she comes back home where everyone thinks she is dead and has moved on without her. This is a storyline I haven't come across before, and Catherine McKenzie really turned it into a fascinating story. I personally really enjoy this author's writing style; she's a great story-teller and it's incredibly easy to fall into one of her novels and not get out until you've finished it.
I loved seeing the main character Emma develop throughout the book, and the story included some great and fascinating other characters, for example Emma's best friend Stephanie and new guy Dominic, that all added something to the storyline. I don't have anything negative to say about this novel, because it's quite simply just a really entertaining read. 'Forgotten' is a fast-paced, original and thoroughly enjoyable read with a captivating storyline; a book that comes highly recommended, just like its author. If you're a women's fiction fan, definitely pick up one of Catherine McKenzie's books, you won't be disappointed!

Rating:9/10

  For more information about this book: Amazon.co.uk / Amazon.com / Goodreads
Thanks to the author for providing me with a review copy in exchange for an honest review.